These are just songs I really like at the moment.
"elektro kardiogramm" - kraftwerk
yesss. probably my favorite techno song. such an excellent driving song, especially if you turn it up as loudly as your speakers go, and turn the bass up really high. bad for your speakers, good for your soul.
"hey preacher" - aa bondy
like the strokes on muscle relaxant. with more intriguing lyrics. this song is a good treatment for road rage.
"grace kelly blues" - the eels
okay. in this song the eels remind me overwhelmingly of the disney version of robin hood. . . with the woodland creatures? i haven't seen it/heard its soundtrack in years, but this voice. . . randomly and very strongly brings robin hood to mind. weird. but anyway. beautiful song.
"stormtrooper" - pepper
star wars + rock + reggae = yes. now we need a harry potter song?
"remind me" - röyksopp
all röyksopp songs remind me of fishing in mammoth with stefan. which just adds to the calmness that this inspires. very restrained, almost detached.
"your wildest dreams" - the moody blues
i saw these guys in concert, and was literally the youngest person in the entire plaza. by far. it was awesome. especially this song - they played the music video from when it first came out, which was kind of hilarious. times (and fashions) have changed. . .
"3rd planet" - modest mouse
yes, i like modest mouse. this is one of my favorites by them - irreverent, ambiguous, and just a bit insane. excellent running song.
"under the milky way" - the church
okay, i first enjoyed this song because when the singer sang "memphis" in the beginning i couldn't stop laughing for a while. but other than that, the guitar makes me want to play and the song is ideal for driving at night.
"behind the moon" - matt costa
hm, i should've made this post like "astronomy-themed songs," apparently. matt costa! excellence.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
CDs!
I refuse to accept defeat when it comes to newspapers, and cringe at the thought of reading a book on a screen rather than a page. So it probably isn't surprising that I still buy CDs.
CDs allow musicians to play around with an entirely new dimension of depth. Bands can weave melodies and create complex continuances that stay consistent throughout the grouping of songs, and when tracks are broken up that's all chopped apart. And even if the songs are all distinctly separate, they're still by the same band. So listening to them all at once still adds to your understanding and experience of the artist. Sitting down and listening to an entire CD is like sitting and watching a movie. Things connect.
Of course mix CDs have their appeal as well, no doubt about it. But an album- that's a special thing.
Here are 5 CDs that I think are just exceptionally amazing.
Arcade Fire (Funeral)
The collectively best group of songs that I've ever heard. I mean, seriously. Out of control. I love the continuity - this album is a quilted message made out of little patched stories. Just. . . sheesh.
Gogol Bordello (Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike)
My countryman! But that's not the only reason this is so good. It's so manic. In such a good crazy way. Folksy punk gypsy music. Pushing the envelope and all that. The critics say it all.
Kraftwerk (Minimum-Maximum)
The best techno. Just. The best techno. And this? The best techno CD. Just. The best techno CD. "Elektro Kardiogramm" is stellar. And I dare you to listen to "Pocket Calculator" and not do the robot. Although I don't know why you'd want to even try. . .
Oasis ((What's the Story) Morning Glory)
Listen to it all the way through, in one sitting. The coarseness of Liam Gallagher's voice gets more appealing the longer you hear it. And each song fits into the next in a subtle way that I might just be creating in my mind.
Fleet Foxes (Sun Giant)
Ok. Even though this is an EP, I'm still including it. Because the writing included in the inside flap greatly influenced the way I look at music. And I'll just say that because it wouldn't be the same for you if I quoted it or whatever. You have to read it on your own, and if you think it's stupid then I apologize. But besides that, this CD. Only five songs. . . but so much awesome. The power of the voice, huh?
CDs allow musicians to play around with an entirely new dimension of depth. Bands can weave melodies and create complex continuances that stay consistent throughout the grouping of songs, and when tracks are broken up that's all chopped apart. And even if the songs are all distinctly separate, they're still by the same band. So listening to them all at once still adds to your understanding and experience of the artist. Sitting down and listening to an entire CD is like sitting and watching a movie. Things connect.
Of course mix CDs have their appeal as well, no doubt about it. But an album- that's a special thing.
Here are 5 CDs that I think are just exceptionally amazing.
Arcade Fire (Funeral)
The collectively best group of songs that I've ever heard. I mean, seriously. Out of control. I love the continuity - this album is a quilted message made out of little patched stories. Just. . . sheesh.
Gogol Bordello (Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike)
My countryman! But that's not the only reason this is so good. It's so manic. In such a good crazy way. Folksy punk gypsy music. Pushing the envelope and all that. The critics say it all.
Kraftwerk (Minimum-Maximum)
The best techno. Just. The best techno. And this? The best techno CD. Just. The best techno CD. "Elektro Kardiogramm" is stellar. And I dare you to listen to "Pocket Calculator" and not do the robot. Although I don't know why you'd want to even try. . .
Oasis ((What's the Story) Morning Glory)
Listen to it all the way through, in one sitting. The coarseness of Liam Gallagher's voice gets more appealing the longer you hear it. And each song fits into the next in a subtle way that I might just be creating in my mind.
Fleet Foxes (Sun Giant)
Ok. Even though this is an EP, I'm still including it. Because the writing included in the inside flap greatly influenced the way I look at music. And I'll just say that because it wouldn't be the same for you if I quoted it or whatever. You have to read it on your own, and if you think it's stupid then I apologize. But besides that, this CD. Only five songs. . . but so much awesome. The power of the voice, huh?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
beautiful music
Most music is beautiful from some angle or another. However, if I were asked to make a CD of the most beautiful songs I know, these are 10 that I'd include. (Definitely not a comprehensive list in the slightest. I left off songs I've mentioned before on this blog. Which rather pained me, actually)
1. "pacific wind" - ryan farish
man, i love ryan farish. i've said it before - he needs to collab with enya and save the world with calmness.
2. "for emma" - bon iver
well, of course. bon iver is beautiful.
3. "falling slowly" - the swell season
seeing these guys in concert! sup! but this song would still make the list anyway.
4. "the sad song" - fredo viola
aaaaaaaaah. perhaps the most beautiful song of these all. just. . . mind-blowing. like the soundtrack for 2001 except overwhelmingly soothing instead of overwhelmingly terrifying. (thanks hans!)
5. "last days of the century" - al stewart
first concert I ever attended. this song gets me every single time. so enveloping. beautiful.
6. "generator (second floor)" - freelance whales
definitely a bit more lively than the previous songs. lively and lovely. (thanks meg!)
7. "sagaba" - blue scholars
i'm ridiculously into these guys lately. solid rap, solid lyrics.
8. "at the bottom of everything" - bright eyes
oberst is an underrated genius, and he's rated pretty highly. his lyrics are consistently fantastic, and this song is my personal favorite. haunting and yes, beautiful.
9. "home" - edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes
this song will always make me think of my friends. so it's beautiful just for that. also because it's wonderfully constructed and just. . . good.
10. "teeth in the grass" - iron & wine
had to include some iron&Wine, of course. goes without saying.
1. "pacific wind" - ryan farish
man, i love ryan farish. i've said it before - he needs to collab with enya and save the world with calmness.
2. "for emma" - bon iver
well, of course. bon iver is beautiful.
3. "falling slowly" - the swell season
seeing these guys in concert! sup! but this song would still make the list anyway.
4. "the sad song" - fredo viola
aaaaaaaaah. perhaps the most beautiful song of these all. just. . . mind-blowing. like the soundtrack for 2001 except overwhelmingly soothing instead of overwhelmingly terrifying. (thanks hans!)
5. "last days of the century" - al stewart
first concert I ever attended. this song gets me every single time. so enveloping. beautiful.
6. "generator (second floor)" - freelance whales
definitely a bit more lively than the previous songs. lively and lovely. (thanks meg!)
7. "sagaba" - blue scholars
i'm ridiculously into these guys lately. solid rap, solid lyrics.
8. "at the bottom of everything" - bright eyes
oberst is an underrated genius, and he's rated pretty highly. his lyrics are consistently fantastic, and this song is my personal favorite. haunting and yes, beautiful.
9. "home" - edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes
this song will always make me think of my friends. so it's beautiful just for that. also because it's wonderfully constructed and just. . . good.
10. "teeth in the grass" - iron & wine
had to include some iron&Wine, of course. goes without saying.
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